8 Bishopsgate
{{Short description|Commercial skyscraper in the City of London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox building
| name = 8 Bishopsgate
| image = 8 Bishopsgate 2023.jpg
| image_alt =
| alternate_names = 150 Leadenhall Street, 6–8 Bishopsgate
| caption = 8 Bishopsgate in 2023
| status =
| location = 8 Bishopsgate, City of London EC2N 4BQ
| coordinates = {{coord|51.5145|-0.0834|region:GB_scale:5000_source:wikimapia|display=inline,title}}
| start_date = 2019
| completion_date = 2023
| building_type = Office
| architectural_style = Contemporary modern
| height = {{convert|204|m|abbr=on}}
| floor_count = 51
| elevator_count = 8
| architecture_firm = WilkinsonEyre
| developer = Mitsubishi Estate
Stanhope plc{{cite news |last=Norman |first=Paul |date=11 May 2022 |title=Mitsubishi and Stanhope Land Debut Tenant At Ultra Sustainable City Tower |url=https://www.costar.com/article/768159512/mitsubishi-and-stanhope-land-debut-tenant-at-ultra-sustainable-city-tower |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 January 2023 |work=CoStar Group}}
| structural_engineer = Arup{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Barbara |date=20 December 2022 |title=Arup announces four new Fellows |url=https://www.arup.com/news-and-events/arup-announces-four-new-fellows |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717124313/https://www.arup.com/news-and-events/arup-announces-four-new-fellows |archive-date=17 July 2023 |access-date=22 January 2023 |work=Arup}}
| website = [https://www.8bishopsgate.com/ 8bishopsgate.com]
}}
8 Bishopsgate is a 51-storey, {{convert|204|metre|adj=on}} tall commercial skyscraper located in the City of London financial district. When it opened in 2023, it was the 11th-tallest building in London. Situated on the corner of Bishopsgate and Leadenhall Street, it neighbours two taller skyscrapers, 122 Leadenhall Street and 22 Bishopsgate. It has a free viewing gallery on the 50th floor.
History
=Previous building=
File:4 and 8 Bishopsgate - geograph.org.uk - 2541482.jpg The current skyscraper replaced 6–8 Bishopsgate,{{cite news |last=Rogers |first=Dave |title=In business with Stanhope's Laura Collins and Tony Wall |url=https://www.building.co.uk/focus/in-business-with-stanhopes-laura-collins-and-tony-wall/5119532.article |access-date=22 January 2023 |work=Building |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240224041220/https://www.building.co.uk/focus/in-business-with-stanhopes-laura-collins-and-tony-wall/5119532.article |archive-date=24 February 2024}} a {{convert|79|m|abbr=on}} tall office building that was the headquarters of Barings Bank up until the bank collapsed in 1995. Barings Bank had been based at 8 Bishopsgate since 1806, the building undergoing several expansions and refurbishments up until it was replaced by a high-rise. Designed by GMW Architects, construction started in 1977 and took four years. The building opened in 1981 and was in use until 2019.
=Planning=
The original contested scheme for 8 Bishopsgate was submitted in 2015.{{cite news |last=Dunton |first=Jim |title=Wilkinson Eyre gets go-ahead for supersized Bishopsgate tower |url=https://www.bdonline.co.uk/wilkinson-eyre-gets-go-ahead-for-supersized-bishopsgate-tower/5089957.article |access-date=22 January 2023 |work=Building Design |date=4 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122062033/https://www.bdonline.co.uk/wilkinson-eyre-gets-go-ahead-for-supersized-bishopsgate-tower/5089957.article |archive-date=22 January 2022}} The skyscraper was designed to be 'visually striking', incorporating high-quality warm building materials such as wood and marble to welcome visitors inside.
The building was constructed as part of a wave of high-rise development in the Bishopsgate area, caused by growing demand for office space in the City of London.{{cite web |title=8 Bishopsgate |url=https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/8-bishopsgate/19424 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209175839/https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/8-bishopsgate/19424 |archive-date=9 December 2023 |access-date=11 January 2023 |website=Skyscraper Center}}
Demolition work on the previous buildings began in mid-2018, with construction work beginning on the new building in 2019.{{cite news |last=Prior |first=Grant |date=22 March 2019 |title=Main construction work starts on 50-storey City tower |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/03/22/main-construction-work-starts-on-50-storey-city-tower/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531215537/https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/03/22/main-construction-work-starts-on-50-storey-city-tower/ |archive-date=31 May 2023 |access-date=22 January 2023 |work=Construction Enquirer News}} The skyscraper opened in 2023,{{cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Laura |date=1 January 2023 |title=23 Things To Look Forward To In London In 2023 |url=https://londonist.com/london/features/things-to-look-forward-to-in-london-in-2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201062118/https://londonist.com/london/features/things-to-look-forward-to-in-london-in-2023 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |access-date=22 January 2023 |website=Londonist}} and includes a free viewing platform, The Look Out, located on the 50th floor.{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Matt |title=Eight New Public Viewing Galleries Coming To The Square Mile |url=https://londonist.com/london/news/eight-new-public-viewing-galleries-coming-to-the-square-mile |website=Londonist |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002011954/https://londonist.com/london/news/eight-new-public-viewing-galleries-coming-to-the-square-mile |archive-date=2 October 2023 |date=11 April 2023 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=25 August 2023 |title=8 Bishopsgate: the new free London viewpoint |url=https://lookup.london/8-bishopsgate-viewing-platform-look-out/ |access-date=29 February 2024 |work=Look Up London}}
Gallery
File:8 Bishopsgate.jpg|8 Bishopsgate in 2021
File:8 Bishopsgate 2022.jpg|8 Bishopsgate in 2022
File:Southeastern view from The Look Out, the 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate, London.jpg|Southeastern view from 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate, with The Scalpel (left)
See also
{{Portal|London|Architecture}}